Five Timeless Business Lessons Inspired by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s fans (aka. Swifties) are some of the most dedicated, and it comes as no surprise. Over her career Taylor has turned connecting with her fans into an art form. From frequently engaging with fans on social media to hosting private listening-parties for her top fans, and planting secret “easter eggs” in her music videos for her fans to decode. While her sharp focus and dedication to fan engagement is one of a kind and continues to build loyalty to her brand.

Key takeaway: Don’t take your customers for granted and treat each customer interaction like it’s your first. Keep showing up and highlight how your product or service is adding value to your customers’ lives.

From humble beginnings as a country musician to record-breaking superstar, Taylor Swift is proof that trying new things pays off. Taylor is constantly pushing the envelope. Undoubtedly, her exploration of different themes and genres with each of her albums has provided opportunities for her to grow beyond her existing audience.

Key takeaway: Improvise, pivot, improve. Staying highly adaptable and seeking out new opportunities will give you a competitive edge.

The story of Taylor Swift’s career is not one of overnight success. It is one fueled by a strong belief in herself and the ability to persist and “rise from the ashes”. Undeniably, even at the top of her game, Taylor continues in her pursuit of excellence and finds new ways to reach greater peaks. Surely, whether it’s performing her entire 3.5-hour on a treadmill to prepare for her world tour or recording her 11^th and 12^th studio albums in between her 149 sold out stadium shows, Taylor Swift has shown that success comes from dedication and on-going commitment to your craft.

Key takeaway: Success doesn’t come overnight. It requires grit and resilience. Believe in yourself and the product or service you offer and continue to overdeliver.

What feels like an endless wave of Taylor Swift album releases is actually a carefully planned strategy: a way to take back ownership of her songs.  When Taylor Swift signed her record deal at 15 years-old, by contract the label owned the master recording rights to her first six albums. After mega success and a transition to a new label, Taylor negotiated to buy her own masters back and was denied. Significantly, to take back ownership and control of her work, Swift re-recorded her entire album catalog. She released them as “Taylor’s Version” editions with new art and additional unreleased tracks that she’s dubbed “From the Vault”. These new versions ensured that future profits and usage benefit her, not the people who bought her old catalog. So, not only did this set a huge precedent in the music industry, but the overwhelming support and success of her new versions ultimately allowed her to buy back her original catalog.

Key takeaway: Stand up for yourself and don’t let others undermine your worth. Protect your work and intellectual property by registering copyrights and trademarking your company name, product names, logos, etc.

While Taylor Swift is a solo artist, she is backed by a team of dedicated employees who keep her business moving. Like all good leaders, she recognizes that success is shared. In addition, during the Eras tour she gave about $55 million in bonuses to staff including members of her tour trucking crew, dancers, stylists, and those in catering, video, audio and lighting.

Key takeaway: Above all, invest in your most valuable asset, your employees. Recognizing, rewarding, and celebrating your employees demonstrates your care and appreciation for their hard work and dedication.